Question: What are your strengths and weaknesses?
It’s easy to tell someone about your professional strengths but who wants to admit that they are weak at something. Answering this loaded question will require a little thought and planning.
Strengths:
Pick out your best qualities and give an example to support it. When accessing your strengths examine the following areas:
Knowledge-based Skills: These skills are based on an expertise of a particular computer program/application or subject area. Some knowledge-based skills could include:
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Expertise in Adobe Photoshop
• Knowledge of labor laws
• Understanding of web standards
Transferable Skills: These are general skills that can be applied to any profession. For example, organizational skills, time management skills, and interpersonal skills.
Job Specific Skills: Reference the job description for examples. A job listing for a high school Spanish teacher will require a fluency in Spanish. That would be considered a job specific skill.
Weaknesses:
Everyone has flaws, but when addressing your weaknesses in an interview, keep them minor and make sure that your weakness is not something that would disqualify you from getting the job. For example, saying you don’t volunteer yourself for projects isn’t going to go over well since employers want someone who is proactive. When you talk about your weakness, remain positive and tell your interviewer how you are working to improve and what you have learned from it.
You can answer this question by using the following strategies:
• Naming a weakness that could be considered strength. (Ex. hard worker, workaholic, empathetic, perfectionist)
• Naming a past weakness that you have overcome. (Ex. lacking an educational credential or technical skill set and took courses to improve)
• Naming a weakness that is not specific to the job or industry. (Ex. international experience, foreign language skills)
Here are a few sample answers:
1. I would like to improve my Photoshop skills so I am currently enrolled in a Photoshop training course.
2. I am working to improve my public speaking skills so I volunteer when speaking opportunities are available.
3. I am impatient and work fast and efficiently on all projects and I get frustrated with communication breakdowns that slow down workflow. To avoid this, I maintain project status reports, update my supervisor at all stages, and anticipate roadblocks and problems before they arise.
There is no right or wrong answer to this question. Remember to highlight the ways in which you are improving your weaknesses. Your examples will show self-development and maturity, two qualities that employers will definitely respect.
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